Presque Isle Downs Selections and Analysis for Monday, June 16, 2025

Dick Powell analyzes the Monday card at Presque Isle Downs and furnishes his selections.

Race 1

1st: (5) FROZEN FOUR – still a maiden after 19 tries but he has eight placings. He ran well on the turf this winter at Tampa Bay, then shipped here and was a game second in good time against this maiden claiming level. 

2nd: (6) WARRIOR’S COBBLER – showed speed here in his career debut last September, then was off for eight months before running evenly in the slop at Penn National. He improved a lot there last out when dropped in class and putting blinkers on.  

3rd: (1) MOHTAFIL – woke up two starts back when dropped in class on the Tapeta at Turfway Park. 

Race 2

1st: (3) DR. HYDE – beat similar on the turf at Laurel last year, then finished up there with an even fourth. He returned here and just missed against this level for Keith Dickey, who wins 15% second start off the layoff. 

2nd: (5) CRUISIN AND BOOZIN – made his PID debut here last out and showed good speed before fading behind the top choice. He could be tough again on the lead with Israel Rodriguez picking up the mount. 

3rd: (1) SECRET TROUBLE – beat decent company here last year going six furlongs and now stretches out to two turns from post 1. 

Race 3

1st: (5) HEAVY POUR – horse for the course ran well two starts back on the Tapeta at Turfway Park when blinkers were added. He ran well on the turf at Keeneland against better company for Tim Girten, who wins 21% with his allowance starters.

2nd: (3) HE’S A MESS – returns off a 235-day layoff for Teresa Connelly, who wins 15% off long layoffs and 14% on synthetic tracks. He draws well here and gets Pablo Morales. As much back class as he has, he has the look of needing a race.  

3rd: (1) TWILIGHT DANCER – won three in a row here last year including a state-bred stakes race. 

Race 4

1st: (2) PERFECT PINK – was beaten 73 lengths in three straight starts on the dirt, then she shipped here for her Tapeta debut and was a good third going short. She comes back at six furlongs for Lance Stokes, who wins 14% with his claimers. 

2nd: (4) NIGHT NURSE – showed good speed for a half-mile in her PID debut last year against stakes foes. After racing at Mahoning Valley in six starts this year, she just missed going gate to wire here last out for Kevin Rice. 

3rd: (3) ON RESERVE – broke her maiden here first time out last August and drops in class today. 

Race 5

1st: (5) OSKAR MARTINEZ – won two turf races in row this winter on the turf at Tampa Bay, then was an even fourth there as the beaten favorite. He raced poorly in his lone start here last year in very fast time for Arnaud Delacour. 

2nd: (6) CARCONE – ran well on the Tapeta at Gulfstream Park this winter. He was a good third in a turf sprint there in a wide trip and comes back against the same allowance level. Melanie Giddings wins 14% with her sprint starters. 

3rd: (1) CITY TRIPPER – horse for the course beat cheaper two starts back here in fast time going this distance. 

Race 6

1st: (10) THE CONNECTOR – horse for the course won two in a row here last year, then was beaten two lengths when moved up in class. He returned with an even effort last out with Brooke Bays, who wins 14% with her sprinters. 

2nd: (5) GOTTS GOT IT – finished up here last year with a. sharp win against much better than these. He’s been racing on the dirt at Laurel this year and now returns for Ron Potts, who wins 18% off medium rest and 21% with his claimers. 

3rd: (1) ENJOY THE MUSIC – beat this level here two starts back last year, then just missed here off the long layoff. 

Race 7

1st: (10) HALON – ran against much better two starts in a row on the turf at Tampa Bay. His lone start here was last July against similar company, and he has trained well for this. Potts wins 21% with this dropdown. 

2nd: (9) STEELER MISCHIEF – speedball ran well two starts back at Gulfstream Park, then came back almost three months later and was right there to the deep stretch when stretched out to two turns. 

3rd: (7) TRAVELLER – finished up last year with a good third in a long sprint, then returned off the layoff with a good fourth.

Race 8

1st: (5) I’M NO ANGEL – ran well last out off a fast workout in his PID debut going two turns in fast time. He draws in the middle with Antonio Gallardo, who wins 24% with his route mounts. Another live starter from Potts. 

2nd: (10) SKIPPY TOWN – didn’t do much in his first two career starts on the dirt, then shipped here with blinkers added and weakened late as the 19-10 favorite. Adam Rice wins 40% first start after being beaten as the favorite. 

3rd: (1) CHASING KITTY – still a maiden after 10 tries and drops to his lowest class level with Morales back aboard.